Private branch exchange system



oct. 27, 1942.

R. RAYMOND PRIVATE BRANCH EXCHANGE SYSTEM Filed Aug. 3. 1940 12 Sheets-Sheet l F/G. 4 [-76.5 F/6.6

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ATTORNEY Oct 27, 1942- R. AR/:mvloND 2,300,316

'PRIVATE BRANCHXCHANGE SYSTEM Finding. s. 1940 12 she'etsshee-t 4 /NVENTOR RAYMOND DECEASED PHYLL/S RAYMOND H/S ADM/N/STRAT/X ATTORNEY O ct. 27, 19442.' R. RAYMOND 2,300,316

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PRIVATE BRANCH/EXCHANGE SYSTEM Filed Aug.; 3. 1940 12 sneetsfseet s 51A/Hl 33h/J0 N wea/v3: n l

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, PRIVATE BRANCH EXCHANGE SYSTEM. A

Filed Aug. s, 1940 12 shams-sheet e INI D I] y D 926@ E-Qz? 9285 :gli:

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ATTORNEY Oct. 27, 1942. R, RAYMOND 2,300,316

PRIVATE BRANCH EXCHANGE SYSTEM Filed Aug. 3, 1940 12 Sheets-Speelt 1 .0 Q u LL 011.27, A1942. R, RAYMOND 2,300,316

PRIVATE BRANCH EXCHANGE SYSTEM Filed Aug. 3, ,1940 Y,

12 Sheets-Sleat l1 /NvE/vrof? IPAYMQND DECEASED PH YL L l5 RA VMO'ND H/S ADM/NIS TRA 7' R/X A TTORNFV Oct. 27, 1942. R, RAYMQND 2,300,316

PRVATE BRANCH EXCHANGE sYsTM Filed Aug. :5. 1940 12 sheets-sheet l /NVENTOR R. RAYMOND 05654550 PHYLL/s ,QA VMOND H/s ADM/N/STRA TR/,v 9V ml.

A TTORNE V Patented Cet. 27, 1942 NETE PRIVATE BRANCH EXCHANGE SYSTEM New York Application August 3, 1940, Serial No. 350,964.

16 Claims.

This invention relates to telephone exchange systems and more particularly to private branch exchange systems in which high speed switches are employed as line nders and connectors for establishing connections between subscribers lines.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a private branch exchange system in which calls may be completed under dial control at high speeds and in a simple and economical manner.

One feature of the invention is the provision of a chain o f gas-lled tubes to control the group selection movement of a line finder or connector by initially firing one of the tubes in accordance with the calling line-group identification or the dialed called line-group identication and then firing the succeeding tubes in the chain to control the degree of group hunting movement of the line finder or connector.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a second chain of gas-lled tubes to control the registration of one dialed digit of a called line number and in the subsequent use of the same chain of tubes to register another digit and to control the operation of a connector switch in its terminal selection movement.

A further feature of the invention is the use of high speed tape driven switches of the type disclosed in Patent No. 2,123,229, granted July 12, 1938, to W. W. Carpenter and R. F. Mallina, as line nder and as connector switches and controlling the step-by-step movements of such switches to select calling or called line terminals.

In accordance with the present invention, the private branch exchange system has a capacity of two hundred station lines, a group of trunks extending to anrattendants position, a group of trunks extending to a central office and two groups of tie-line trunks extending to other private branch exchanges, accommodation being had for other tie-line trunk groups if desired. For establishing connections thirty switch units are employed,A each unit comprising a line nder and a connector of the high speed tape driven type disclosed in Patent 2,123,229 to Carpenter et al., above referred to, the line ndcrs preferably having access to line and trunk terminals on one face of the panel bank and the connectors to the line and trunk terminals on the other face of the bank although by extending the bank lengthwise the line finders and connectors could be located on the same side of the bank. To accommodate the station lines and trunk groups,

three banks are employed, one of one hundred Cil and ten terminal sets located below the normal wiper positions ofthe switches in which one hundred station lines divided into ten subgroups terminate with a group terminal set Vpreceding each subgroup, a second bank of one hundred and ten terminal sets located immediately above the normal wiper positions in which .a second c one hundred station lines similarly subgrouped terminate and a third bank positioned immediately above the second bank in which groups of trunks terminate, each group of trunk terminals being likewise preceded by a group terminal. The wipers of each switch may be driven from their normal position either downwardly or upwardly to connect with the terminals ofV any station line or trunk.

For each ten station lines or incoming trunks, a multielectrode gas-iilled tube is employed, the ten control electrodes of which are connected to tip conductors of ten lines, the tip conductor of each line being also connected to ground through a resistance and the ring conductor of each line being connected through a resistance to the positive terminal of a 90-volt battery whose negative terminal is grounded. Thus when a calling loop is established on any one of the ten lines or trunks, positive potential is applied to a control cathode of the common tube' thereby tiring the tube to operate a group relay common to the line or trunk group. vThe group relay is instrumental in seizing one of iive common recorder circuits in a specied preference, a different preference being allocated to the group relays of which twenty-two are provided. If any preferred recorder is found busy, at the time a call is incoming, the next idle recorder in the order of preference is seized.

When an idle recorder is seized it is connected to an idle line-rinder-connector unit over one of ve links by a recorder link cross-bar switch and by a line-finder link cross-bar switch, each recorder having a" different preference fof link and each link having a choice of six of the linender-connector units. The vertical units of theiswitches are operated in pairs to afford the required number of eight conductors for each link. The recorder link switches have five common select magnets, one for each recorder; the line-finder link switches have six commonselect magnets, one for each group of five line-underconnector units and each switch has ten hold magnets, the hold magnets of two adjacent and corresponding vertical units of the recorder link switch and of the line-finder link vswitch being operable together.

On the seizure of any recorder, it becomes connected over the iirst idle linkin the order of preference to an idle line-nder-connector unit and the wiper carriage of the selected line nder is started at high speed either up or down in accordance with the location of the calling line group in the bank as determined by the operated line group relay. For controlling the extent of movement of the wiper carriage toreach the calling line group, a first chain of fteen three-element cold cathode tubes is employed, the tubes of the chain being so associated that each tube upon being fired primes the next tube and that tube upon firing primes the next succeeding tube and extinguishes the preceding tube. Each line-group relay upon operating lires one of the tubes of the chain in accordance with the position of the corresponding line group in one of the line-iinder banks and the passage of the sleeve wiper of the line finder over sleeve terminals f the group terminal sets, causes the firing of successive tubes of the chain following the tube red by the operated group relay until, upon the ring of the fteenth tube of the chain, the driving circuit of the line nder is opened to arrest the group hunting movement at which time the wipers of the line finder will have been advanced to the group terminal set of the calling line group. Due to the high hunting speed of the line finder, the Wipers will overrun the group terminal set of the calling line group whereupon the driving motor will be reversed to drive the wipers at a lower speed back to the calling line group terminal set whereupon the fifth tube of the chain, which was primed by the firing of the fteenth tube, is fired and causes the extinguishing of the fifteenth tube which is now effective to arrest the return movement of the linefnder wipers upon the group terminal set of the calling line group.

The switch is then started in its original direction of movement at a low speed to hunt for the calling line in the selected line group, its sleeve wiper in passing over each line sleeve terminal regardless of the idle or busy condition of the line, causing the momentary extinguishing of a gas-filled tube which was ionized upon the seizure of the recorder to control a relay combination to momentarily stop the advance of the switch wipers and to successively re tubes of the chain succeeding the previously fired fth tube. The switch wipers are then advanced step by step over the terminal sets of the calling line group until the terminals of the calling line are encountered, whereupon positive 90-volt battery connected from the ring conductor of the calling line over the station loop to the tip terminal of the line is instrumental in firing a further gas-filled tube of the recorder to prevent the further advance of the wipers of the line nder. At this time the operated line-group relay is released, the dialing loop from the calling line is extended to the recorder over which dial tone is transmitted, the recorder is prepared to register the first digit of the desired station line or trunk number and the control circuits for the connector tied with the seized line nder are prepared.

In response to the dialing of the rst digit, successive cold cathode tubes of a second chain are fired in accordance with the number of digit impulses received to register the rst or hundreds digit, the tube last fired being instrumental following the termination of the digit series to operate one of six hundreds register relays dependent upon whether the first digit dialed was 2, 3, '7, 8, 9 or 0. If digit 1, 4 or 6 is dialed in error or there-was a preliminary impulse, the tube of the second chain last fired, is extinguished and the circuit returns to the condition which existed before the digit was dialed. If hundreds relay 7, 8, 9 or 0 is operated, indicating a desired trunk group, the recorder is at once prepared for trunk hunting since no further digits are expected, but if digit 2 or 3 is dialed indicating a station call, relays are operated to transfer dialing control from the second chain of tubes to the fourth tube of the first chain which immediately fires, whereupon such tubes of the iirst chain beginning with the iifth and extending to the fourteenth are successively red depending upon the digital value of the second digit dialed. At the termination of the second digit series, the last tube of the second chain iired, is extinguished, the iirst tube of the second chain is red and the dialing control is transferred from the rst chain of tubes to the second chain of tubes. In response to the third digit dialed, tubes of the second chain are successively fired in accordance with the digital value of the third digit. The tens or subgroup digit is now registered by the iired condition of one of the tubes of the iirst chain and the units digit by the fired condition of one of the tubes of the second chain.

As soon as the second digit has been registered, the motor of the connector switch is operated in the direction determined by the value of the first digit registered by the hundreds relay which was operated, that is, to make a selection in the lower bank or in one of the upper banks and drives the connector wipers at high speed. As the wipers advance, the sleeve Wiper engages successive group terminal sleeves and thereby causes the ring of the successive tubes of the rst chain beginning with the tube succeeding the one last red to register the tens digit until the sleeve wiper causes the firing of the ifteenth tube of that chain at which time the wipers will have advanced to the group terminal set of the registered line group of ten lines. Due to the high hunting speed, the wipers will overrun the group terminal set whereupon the motor will be reversed to drive the wipers at a lower speed back to the group terminal set of the wanted group, whereupon the fifth tube of the first chain which was primed by the ring of the fteenth tube is fired and extinguishes the fteenth tube which is now eiective to arrest the return movement of the wipers on the group terminal set of the registered line group.

The connector switch is then started in its original direction of movement and advances one step in the manner previously described in connection with the step-by-step movement of the line nder and stops on the terminals of the first trunk of the group if a trunk call has been dialed or on the terminals of the rst line of the selected subgroup if the units digit has not been registered. As soon as the units digit for a station line call has been registered, the connector continues to advance step by step, each step being counted by the ring of successive tubes of the second group beginning With the tube succeeding the tube last iired to register the units digit, the called line terminal being reached at the time the last or twelfth tube of the second chain is fired. When this tube fires the advance motion of the switch is arrested and the idle or busy condition of the line is then tested and if found busy, a busy tone is transmitted, but if found idle a talking selection relay is operated in the switch unit to start ringing, cut-through of the connection and the release of the recorder.

If the called line is the rst of a hunting group or if the rst trunk of a trunk group is busy, the connector is advanced step by step until an idle line or trunk is found.

For a clearer understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l shows a plurality of subscribers station lines. and a group of tie-line trunks;

Fig. 2 shows a plurality of gas-filled tubes serving as groupY line relays for the several subgroups of station lines and tie-line trunks;

Figs 3 to 5, inclusive, taken together, show one complete recorder or sender circuit;

Fig. 6 shows portions of four other recorder circuits;

Figs. 7 and 8 taken together show a line-{inderconnector unit, Fig. 7 showing the line finder and Fig. 8 showing the connector and certain station lines and trunks to which the connector has access;

Figs. 9 to 12, inclusive, disclose five links and associated switches, whereby any one of the five recorders may become associated with any one of thirty line-inder-connector units, Figs 9 and 10 showing the line-finder link switch and Figs. 11 and 12 showing the recorder link switch; and

Fig. 13 is a chart showing how Figs. l to 12, inclusive, should be arranged to completely disclose the invention.

GENE?. AL DesoRiPrIoN As previously stated the circuits disclosed to illustrate the invention have been designed to serve two hundred station lines, two groups of two-way tie-line trunks extending to other private branch exchanges, a group of trunks extending to a central oice, and a group of trunks extendinC to an attendants position. For establishing connections between station lines or between station lines or trunks and tie-line trunks, thirty line-fri: er-connector switch units are provided, each unit comprising a line nder and a connector of the high speed tape driven panel type disclosed in Patent 2,28,229 hereinbefore referred to, Each switch is prox/aided with a set of three Wipers, a reversing switch, a brake magnet and a reversible alternating current driving motor.

One ofthe units disclosed in Figs. 7 and 8 comf prises a line nnder having a wiper set including tip, ring and sleeve wipers 789, 18! and 'm2, respectively, a reverung switch 783, a brake magnet 784 and a driving motor 'm5 and a connector switch having a wiper set comprising tip, ring and sleeve wipers 889, 852i and 882, respectively, a reversing switch i383, a brake magnet 884 and a driving motor 895.

Three double faced banks of terminal sets are provided common to all line finders and connectors, the line finders having access to the terminal sets on one face of the banks and the connectors to the terminal sets on the other face of the banks. The wiper sets of the line and connector disclosed in Figs. 7 and 8 have been illustrated in their normal positions just above the bottom one of the three banks and just below the middle bank. Station lines whose directory numbers are to 395 are divided into subgroups of ten lines each and terminate in subgroups` of terminal setsA of the lower bank, each subgroupof ten terminal sets being preceded by a group terminal Set- As illustrated, the upper terminal set 75,5, of the lower bank is a group terminal set allocated to the first group of ten station line terminal sets in which lines having thedirectory numbers 33t, 3539, Silt--llr terminate in the order stated. Line itil, having a directory number 308, terminates in the first tervminal setllY of this subgroup and line lim having a directory number 3531i terminates in the tenth terminal set' 'H68 of this subgroup. The terminal setl'ii is followed by another group terminal set (not shown) in Fig. 7, but disclosed for convenience of illustration at im@ in Fig. 8, and then followed by another subgroup of tenV terminal sets allocated to lines having the directory numbers @98` to 388 the first line 322 of this subgroup Whose directory number is 39D appearing in terminal set 89'? and the tenth line 82S of this subgroup whose-directory number is 39! appearing in terminal set, 8538'. In a similar manner, eight other group terminal sets and associ-ated subgroups'of line terminal sets foilow in the bank, the last subgroup of ten termina] sets being allocated to lines whose directory numbers 318, 3 t8, MiB-3 5 l in the order named, Station lines whose directory numbers are 288 to 299; are similarlyy divided into subgroups of ten lines each and terminate subgroups of terminal setsK ofthe middle bank, that is, the bank immediately above the normal wiper positions, ofthe switches, each subgroup of ten vter,- rninai sets being preceded by a group terminal set. As illustrated, the lower ter" -al set 789 is a group terminal set allocated to the first group of ten station line terminal sets in which lines having the directory numbers ie-9, 28 v-til terminate in order stated. Line lll'i'hav- .ing a directory number 25.18 t? minates in the @rst terminal set lili of this subgroupnd line 4F33 haviijlgv a directory number 2M terminates in the tenth terminal set ill of this subgroup. The terminal set 'Hl is followed by another lgroup terminal set (not shown) in Fig. 7, but disclosed for convenience,ofillustration Vat-lit of Fig. 8 and then followed by another subgroup of ten ternjiinalY sets allocated to lines having the directory numbers 2.9i) to 28th The rst line 8M of this subgroup whose directory number is 2% .appearsin terminal set Si@ and the tenth line 825 of this subgroup whose directory number is 29| appears in terminal set 8E?. Seven other subgroups ofterminal lsets (not shown) each preceded by a groupterrninal set follow the terminalseti! in The last group terminal set 'liti allocated to the tenth subgroup of ten station line terminal sots, allocated to lines having the directory numb rs 2i@ 2te follows the last terminal` set ofthe ninth subgroup (not shown) in turn followed by the tenth subgroup of tenistation line terminal sets. Line itt having a directory number it? terminates in the first Vterminal set 'H3 of this subgroup and line H35 `having a directory rnumb-erm! terminates in the tenth terminal set 7M.- oi this subgroup t. at is in the umierincstv terminal set of the bank.

Tie-line trunks, trunks to a central cnice and Atrunks to an attendants position terminate in terminal sets of the uppermost bank. The first terminal set 'H5 of this bank is a group terminal. set allocated to a iii-st group of two-way tie-line trunks. This group may contain anyrequired number of trunks but will be assumed to "have ten trunks, the rst of which lo@ terminates in terminal set 'H6 and the tenth of which terminates in terminal set An idle one of these tie-line trunks may be reached by a connector switch in response to the dialing of a single digit A second group of terminal sets preceded by a group terminal set follows the terminal set 'H1 in the terminal bank and is allocated to a second group of tie-line trunks which also may contain ten or more trunks, an idle one of which may be reached by a connector switch in response tothe dialing of the single digit 8. immediately succeeding the second group of tie-line trunk terminal sets is a group of terminal sets, not shown in Fig. '7 but disclosed in Fig. 8, preceded by a group terminal set |2 and allocated to a group of trunks extending to a central oice. The rst of these trunks 3|0 terminates in terminal set 8| 3 and the last of these trunks 8|9 terminates in terminal set 8M. An idle one of these trunks may be seized by a connector switch in response to the dialing of a single digit 9. These trunks, however, are arranged to handle only calls toward the central oiiice and are not provided with equipment for controlling a line finder to hunt for their terminals. Immediately above this group of central ofiice trunk terminal sets is a group of terminal sets not shown in Fig. 7 but disclosed in Fig. 8 preceded by a group terminal set SI and allocated to a group of trunks extending to an attendants position. The first of these trunks 820 terminates in terminal set l and the last 82| terminates in terminal set SI1. An idle one o f these trunks may be Seized by a connector switch in response to the dialing of a single digit 0, but these trunks being arranged to handle only calls towards the attendants position are not provided with equipment for controlling a line nder to hunt for their terminals.

From the foregoing discussion of the subgrouping of the station lines and trunks, it will be noted that the station lines are divided into twenty ten-line subgroups and that there are two subgroups of tie-line trunks over which calls may be initiated. Twenty-two multielectrode cold cathode tubes 200 to 22 inclusive, are therefore provided individual respectively to these subgroups of lines and tie-line trunks which serve as commu-n line relays for the lines and trunks. Each of these tubes is provided with a cathode, an anode and ten control cathodes or grids and may be of the general type disclosed in Patent No. 2,039,637, granted May 5, 1936, to 'I'. L. Dimond. In order to simplify the drawing only eight of these tubes and their associated linegroup or anode relays have been disclosed, tubes 220 and 22| being individual respectively to the two subgroups of tie-line trunks, tubes 2|0 and 2|9 being individual respectively to the station line subgroups including lines |02 to |03 and |24 to |25, tube 254 being individual to an intermediate station line subgroup (not shown) terminating in the middle bank, tube 200 being individual to the station line subgroup including lines |0| to |00, tube 204 being individual to an intermediate station line subgroup (not shown) terminating in the lower bank and tube 209 being individual to the last station line subgroup Y(not shown) terminating in the lower bank.

The control cathodes or grids of these tubes are connected through high resistances to the tip conductors of station lines or trunks, the cathodes of the tubes are connected to the negative terminal of battery 222, the positive terminal of which is grounded and the anodes of the several tubes are connected through the windings of their associated anode or line-group relays over chain contacts of the line-group relays to the positive terminal of a -volt battery 223, the negative terminal of which is connected to ground. For example the anode of tube 22| is connected through the winding of relay 25| to battery 223; the anode of tube 220 is connected through the winding of relay 250 and the back contact of relay 25| to battery 223; the anode of tube 2|9 is connected through the winding of relay 249 and back contacts of relays 250 and 25| to battery 223, etc. The contacts of the line-group relays are connected in chain circuits beginning with relay 230, extending through relays 23|, 232 and 233 (not shown) relay 234, relays 235, 230, 231 and 233 (not shown), relays 239 and 240, relays 24|, 242 and 243 (not shown), relay 244, relays 245, 246, 241 and 248 (not shown) and thence through relays 249, 250 and 25|.

Two chains of three-element cold cathode tubes are provided in each recorder of which the No. 1 recorder is disclosed in full in Figs. 3 to 5, inclusive. The chain 400 comprises fifteen tubes 40| to 4|5, inclusive, disclosed in Figs. 4 and 5 which are connected in such a manner that one tube upon ring or becoming conducting primes the next succeeding tube and extinguishes the preceding tube. 'The chain 450 comprises twelve tubes 45| to 432, inclusive, similarly connected.

The cross-bar switches disclosed in Figs. 9 to 12, inclusive, may be of the well-known type disclosed in Patent 2,021,329, granted November 19, 1935, to J. N. Reynolds. The line-iinder link switch disclosed in Figs. 9 and 10 has six select magnets 900 to 905, inclusive, and ten hold magnets 9|!) to 9|9, inclusive, some of which are disclosed in Fig. 10 and the recorder link switch disclosed in Figs. l1 and 12 has iive select magnets to H04, inclusive, and ten hold magnets |||0 to I9, inclusive, some of which are disclosed in Fig. 12. The corresponding hold magnets of both switches are operable together and upon operating cause the operation of the corresponding adjacent hold magnets of both switches. For example, hold magnets 9| 0 and I I0 operate in parallel and upon operating cause the operation of the adjacent hold magnets 9|| and Initiation of a. station call It will now be assumed that the subscriber whose line is indicated at |00 initiates a call and dials the directory number 39| of the line 823. Upon removing the receiver from the switch hook a circuit is established from gro-und through resistance |08 of approximately 5,000 ohms, over tip conductor |09 through the substation, thence over ring conductor H0, through resistance of approximately 5,000 ohms, to the positive terminal of 90-volt battery i2, the negative terminal of which is grounded. Positive potential is also applied from the battery ||2.through resist-ance over the line loop through high resistances ||3 and H4 in series and conductor I5 to the grid of tube 200 which is allocated to the lines of the subgroup in which line |90 is located. Tube 200 now becomes conducting over its cathode gap, over a path previously traced from the positive terminal of battery |22 to the grid of the tube thence to the cathode o-f the tube and to the negative terminal of battery 222. With the tube conducting, line-group relay 230 now operates in the cathode-anode circuit of the tube which may be traced from battery 223 over the back contact of tie-line group the inner lower back contacts of tie-line group relay 250 and of line-group relay 249 and of other linegroup relays including relay 231 (not shown), the winding of relay 239, across the anode-cathode gap of tube 299 to the negative terminal of battery 222. Relay 239 thereupon operates, if no preceding line-group relay is at the time op erated, and locks in a circuit from the positive terminal of battery 223, through the inner, lower front contact and winding of relay 239, thence across the anode-cathode gap of tube 299 to the negative terminal of battery 222, whereby relay 239 is maintained operated and tube 299 remains conducting.

Relay 239 upon operating also establishes a circuit from battery through the windings of start relays 599 and 591 in paralell of the No. 1 recorder, which is the first preference for the fty lines whose directory numbers are 319 to 359 served by the ve tubes 299 to 294, inclusive, outer right baci: contact of recorder busy relay 593, which relay will be unoperated if the No. 1 recorder is idle, conductor 594, inner upper iront Contact of relay 239, normal contacts of relay 224, conductor 221, back contact of relay 595, conductor 599 and thence over back contacts of relays 595, 515, 925 and 935, similar to relay 595, of the other recorders to ground. Relays 599 and 551 operate in this circuit, relay 599 upon operating establishing an obvious operating circuit for start relay 592. Had the No. 1 recorder been busy and its relay 53 therefore been operated, the start circuit would have been extended from ground on conductor 594 over the outer right front contact of relay 593, conductor 591, outer right back contact of busy relay 693 of the No. 2 recorder, if such recorder is at the time idle, to battery through the windings of start relays 999 and 59| of the No. 2l recorder. Had the No. V2 recorder also been busy and relay 993 thereof been operated, the start circuit wo-uld be further extended over the outer right front contact of relay 93 and over the outer right back contact of relay 913 to battery through the windings of start relays 919 and El I of the No. 3 recorder. Had the No. 3 recorder also been busy and relay 913 thereof been operated, the start circuit would be further extended over the outer right front contact of relay 513 and over the outer right back Contact of relay 523 to battery through the windings of start relays 929 and 921 of the No. 4 recorder. Had the No. 4 recorder also been busy and relay 923 been operated, the start circuit would be further extended over the outer right iront contact of relay 923 and over the outer right back contact of relay 933 to battery through the windings of start relays 93 and 63| of the No. 5 recorder.

Had one of the nity lines, whose directory numbers are 399 to 399 and 399 to 399 served by the live tubes 295 to 299, inclusive, initiated a call, the No. 2 recor-der would have been started as a first preference over a circuit from ground on conductor 221, normal contacts of relay y2211, inner upper back contacts of line group relays 239 to 234, inclusive, the inner upperback co-ntacts of unoperated line relays of the group 235 to 239, inclusive, associated with tubes 295 to 299, inclusive, thence over the inner upper front contact of the operated one` of this group of relays, for example, relay 239, conductor 591, outer right back contact of relay 993 to battery through the windings of start relays699 and 9| of the No. 2 recorder. The No. 2 recorder is thus the rst preference for these lines, the Nos. 3, 4, 5 and 1 recorders being taken for use in the order named if the No. 2 recorder is at the time busy, the start circuit being extended from the outer right front contact of relay 933 in the event that the Nos. 2 to `5 recorders are all busy over conductor 594, the outer right back contact of relay 593 to battery through the windings of start relays 599 and 591 of the No. l recorder if such recorder is idle.

Had one of the fifty lines whose directory numbers are 2&9 to 259, served by the ve 4tubes 219 to 214 initiated a call, the No. 3 recorder would have been started as a rst preference over a circuit from ground on `conductor 221, normal contacts of relay 224, inner upper back contacts of line group relays-239 to" 239, inclusive, the inner upper back contacts of unoperated relays of the group 249 to 244 associated vwith tubes 2119 to 214, the inner upper :front cont-act of the operated one of this group of relays, conductor 598, the outer right back contact of relay 913 to battery through the windings of start relays 619 and 91| of the No. 3 recorder if such recorder is idle. If the No. 3 recorder `is at the time busy, the start, circuit will be extended ina manner previously described to the rst available recorder in the preference order 4, 5, 1 and 2. Had one of the fty lines whose directory numbers are 299 and 299 and 299 to 299 Served by the five tubes `215 to 219, initiated va call, the No. 4 recorder would have been started as a rst preference over a circuit from ground on conductor 221, normal contacts of relay 224, inner upper back contacts of line-group relays 239 to 244, inclusive, inner upper back contacts of unoperated relays of the group 245 to 249, inclusive, associated with tubes`215 to 219,.inclu sive, the inner upper front contact of the operated one of this group of relays, conductor 599, the outer right back contact of relay 923 to battery through the windings of start relays 629 and 92| of the No. 4 recorder if such recorder is idle. If the No. 4 recorder is at the time busy, the start circuit will be extended in a manner previously described to the first available recorder in the preference order 5, 1, 2 and 3. f

Had one of the tie-line trunks served by the two tubes 229 and 22| initiated a call, the No. 5 recorder would have been started as a first preference over a circuit from ground on conductor 221, normal contacts of relay 224, inner upper back contacts of line-group relays 239 to 249, inclusive, inner upper front contact of line-group relay 259, to conductor 519, if line-group relay 259 is operated or over the inner upper back contact of relay 259 and the inner upper front contact of line-group relay 25|, if relay 251 is operated, to conductor 519, thence over the outer rightV back contact of relay 933 to battery through the windings of start relays 639 and 931 of the No. 5 re corder if such recorder is idle. recorder is at the time busy, the start circuit will be extended in the manner previously described to the rst available recorder in the kpreference order 1, 2, 3 and 4.

It will be noted that when any line-group relay, such as relay 239 operates, it opens at its inner upper back contact the circuit over which starting ground may be applied from conductor 221 to any of the recorder start circuits by the operation of other line-group relays positioned later in the chain of line-group relays and thatv since such operated line-group relay at its inner lower back contact opens the circuit over which If the No. 5 l

:the winding cf start relay 122.

battery 223 is connected to the windings of all line-group relays positioned earlier in the chain no earlier line-group relay may be operated, it is not possible for a start circuit to be closed to a second recorder on a second initiated call until a line finder has found the first calling line and the operated line-group relay has been released.

It will be recalled that the operation of linegroup relay 239 caused the operation of start relays 500, 5M and 592 of the No. 1 recorder. Relay 502 upon operating closes a circuit from battery through the winding of relay 224, the upper back contact of relay 22S, conductor 228, inner left contacts of relay 502 to ground at the outer right front contacts of relay 509 and relay 224 operates, opens at its upper normal contacts the previously traced start circuit for relays 50i] and 501| which release, and at its upper alternate contacts establishes a locking circuit for itself and relay 5112 which may be traced from battery through the winding of relay 224, upper back contact of relay 226, conductor 228, inner left front contacts of relay 582, conductor 5I I, upper alternate contacts of relay 224 to ground on conductor 221. In the event a later choice recorder should be started and then an earlier choice recorder should become free while relay 224 is in the act of operation, the start relay of the earlier recorder would lock up as described in connection with relay 592 and the later one would release.

Each recorder prefers one of ve link circuits by which it may become associated with an idle line-finder-connector unit and having chosen a link circuit, any recorder chooses in a definite order among the six line-nder-co-nnector units to which that link circuit has access. The No. l recorder chooses the link circuits in the order 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, the No. 2 recorder in the order 2, 3, 4, 5 and l, the No. 3 recorder in the order 3, 4, 5, 1 and 2, the No. 4 recorder in the order 4, 5, l, 2 and 3 and the No. 5 recorder in the order 5, l, 2, 3 and 4. The No. 1 link chooses line-nder-connector units in the order l, 2, 3, 4, 5, G, the No. 2 link chooses line-finder-connector units in the order 7, 8, 9, l0, 1l, 12', the No. 3 link chooses line-finder-connectc-r units in the order 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18, the No. 4 link chooses the line-finder-connector units in the order 19, 20, 2l, 22, 23 and 24 and the No. 5 link chooses line-nder-ccnnector units in the order 25, 26,

27, 28, 29 and 30.

t will be assumed that at the time the start relay 552 of the No. l recorder circuit operated,

to the No. 1 link circuit are unoperated and that y'the No. 1 line-nder-connector unit, to which the No. l link circuit has access, is busy as indicated bythe operated conditie-n of its olf-normal relay 920, corresponding to relay 129 of Fig. 7. A circuit is therefore established for the start relay 122 of the No. 2y line-nder-connector unit disclosed in Figs. 'l and 8 which may be traced from .ground on conductor 221, over the upper normal contacts of relay 225, conductor 229, middle right frontl contact of relay 5ll2, conductor 5I2, back contact of hold contact 9I I, conductor 923, upper front contact of relay 929, conductor 924, upper Vback contact of off-normal relay 126, middle lower back Contact of relay 12i, to battery through K I-l'ad the No. 2 line-finder-ccnnectorl unit been busy and its oil"- normal relay 12e therefore operated, the start circuit just traced would have been extended from conductor 924 over the upperV front Contact of relay 120, conductor 925, thence over the upper front contacts of off-normal relays of succeeding busy units and over the upper back con tact of the off-normal relay of the rst idle unit of the group to the start relay of such unit.

Had all of the line-iinder-connector units of the first group of six, available from the No. 1 link circuit, been busyand therefore all of their off-normal relays been operated, with the offnormal relay 925 of the sixth unit operated, the

start circuit would have been extended over the back contact of hold magnet 9I3 associated with the No. 2 link circuit, if such link circuit is not in use with another recorder, thence over back 01 front contacts of the off-normal relays S21-928 of the second group of units to the start relay of the first available unit of this group. In a similar manner, the start circuit may be extended to the start relay of another group of units.

If it be assumed that when the start relay 502 of the No. 1 recorder operated, the No. 1 link circuit was in use with another recorder and consequently the hold magnet 9|I was operated, the previously traced start circuit would have been extended from conductor 5I2 over the lower front contact of magnet 9| I, the lower back contact of magnet 9I3 if the second link circuit was available, thence to a start relay of the second group of units over front or back contacts of the 01T- normal relays S21- 928 of such units. Had the second link circuit been busy and hold magnet 9I3 associated therewith been operated, the start circuit would have been extended over the lower front contact thereof, the back contact of magnet 9I5, if the third link circuit was available, thence over conductor |000 to a start relay of the third group of units, over front or back contacts of the off-normal relays IDBI-|002 of such units. Had the third link circuit been busy and hold magnet SI5 associated therewith been operated, the start circuit would have been extended over the lower front contact thereof, the back contact of hold magnet 9I1 if the fourth link circuit was available, thence to a start relay of the fourth group of units over front or back contacts of the olf-normal relays IMIS- |904 of such units. Had the fourth link circuit been busy and hold magnet SI1 associated therewith been operated, the start circuit would have been extended over the lower front contact thereof, the back contact of magnet 9I9 if the fifth link circuit was available, thence to a start relay of the fifth group of units over front or back contacts of the off-normal relays W95-|006 of such units.

If it be further assumed that the No. 2 recorder was seized to serve the call, then upon the operation of its start relay 602, a start circuit would be established from ground on conductor 229, over the middle right front contact of relay 602, conductor 606, back contact of magnet 9I3 if the No. 2 link circuit which is the first preference for the use of the No. 2 recorder is available, thence over back or front contacts of the off-normal relays 921--928 of the second group of units to the start relay of the f'lrst available unit of this group or if no unit of this group is available over the front contact of off-normal relay 928 of the last unit of the group, conductor 929, back contact of hold magnet SI5, associated with the No. 3 link circuit if such link circuit is available for use, conductor |890, thence over back or front contacts of the off-normal relays IBM-|002 of the third group of units to the start relay of the first available unitA of this group. In a similar manner the start circuit may be extendedto the start relays of other groups of units.

Finding the calling line Start relay S02 upon operating also closed a circuit from 90-volt battery SM, the negative terminal of which is grounded, over the inner right front contact of relay 502, the inner right back contact of relay S03, to the anodes of all of the tubes of the chain 489 and, with start relay SGB operated, the left or control cathodes of tubes 30S to H4 of this chain are connected over conductors of cable SI5, to the lower front contacts of the line-group relays of Fig. 2. Since it was assumed that the line-group relay 230 has been operated, a circuit is established from the control cathode of tube 4M over the No. 14 contact of relay S, conductor SIG of cable SI5, the lower front contact of relay 232, conductor SI'I, No. 4 contacts of relay S00, conductor 538 through high resistances MS and l'l to ground. Since the right cathode of tube M4 is connected through resistance 422 to the negative terminal of battery M8, the positive terminal of which is grounded, the tube 4M iires over its cathode gap and is maintained in a conductive condition from battery M8 through resistance 622 across the cathode-anode gap of the tube to battery SIA so long as relay 502 remains operated. The ring of tube M4 registers in the recorder that the calling line is in the iirst subgroup of one of the banks.

When tube M4 becomes conducting a charging circuit for condenser 424 is established from the source Shi of QO-Volt positive potential across the cathode-anode gap of the tube through the 100,000-ohm resistance G23, condenser 424 and the NLUUG-ohm resistance 52| to the negative terminal of battery 520, the positive terminal of which is connected to ground. As soon as condenser 424 becomes charged, the point between resistances 423 and 2S reaches a positive potential of approximately l volts, there having been substantially 65 volts drop in potential across the anode-cathode gap of tube 4M. This 15- volt positive potential is also applied through l0,0)0,ohm resistance 425 to the control cathode of tube M5, but the diiierence of potential between the cathodes of tube GIS is not suicient to cause the tube to become conducting at this time but the tube is primed for future ring.

When start relay 122 operates as previously described, it establishes a circuit for relay 225 which may be traced from battery through its Winding, conductor 252, inner upper front contacts of relay 122, upper back contact of oinormal relay 12d, conductor Q24, thence over the start circuit for relay 122 previously traced to ground. Relay 22S upon operating locks over conductor 252, the inner upper front contacts of relay '122, conductor 123, the lower back contact of start relay 930 of the first line-finderconnector unit, conductor 253, the upper alternate contacts of relay 22S to ground on conductor 221. Relay 122 locks to this locking circuit from battery through its winding, the middle lower back contact of relay 'I2l, and the inner upper front contacts of relay 122. Relay 225 upon operating opens at its inner upper normal contacts the start circuit over which start relay 122 was initially operated. In case a late choice link circuit or a late choice line-finderconnector unit should be selected and then an earlier one should become free while relay 22S relay would lock up and the latter one release. When both relays 22d and 22S have operated, a circuit is established from battery through the winding of relay 226, the lower iront contact of relay 22S to ground at the lower front contact of relay 224 and relay 226 operates and locks over its lower front contact to ground at the lower front contact of relay 22d. With relay 22S operated, relay 222 is held operated over the inner lower front contact or relay 22S from ground applied to conductor 228 and thus relay `22d is maintained operated until relay 22S releases. At its upper contact relay 22S connects ground over the rniddlo upper front Contact of line-group relay 23d to a point between the anode of tube 228 and the winding of relay 230, thereby extinguishing the tube 2539 and holding relay 23S operated in a circuit through the winding of relay 23d, the inner lower front contact thereof and to battery 223.

With recorder start relay 5&2 operated, a circuit is also established from ground on conductor Si! over the outer right front contact of relay S92, conductor SI2 to battery through the Windis in the act of operating, the earlier unitstart the lineinder link switch of Figs. 9 and 10.`

With these two select magnets operated, a circuit is established from ground over the front contact oi magnet Hill?, conductor I 22, the iront contact of magnet conductor QSI, the inner lower front contact of relay 122, conductor 932, to battery in parallel through the windings of hold magnets el@ and 51H22 associated with the No. 1 link circuit. These magnets upon operating with the select magnets 994 and H22 operated, close the cross-point contact sets 933 and Ii2I. A circuit is also established from ground `over the lower contact of hold magnet Stil, conductor 934, lower contact of hold magnet IHEJ to battery through the winding of held magnet SISI and in vparallel therewith over conductor H22 to battery through the winding of hold magnet Si i. Magnets SII and I ill now operate and with select magnets Se@ and Emil operated, the cross-point Contact sets 35 and H23 are closed. With the cross-point contact sets 233, 93S, HEI and H23 closed, the No. l recorder is connected with the No. 2 line-iinderconnector unit over conductors of the No. 1 link circuit. Upon the closure of the contacts of the cross-point contact set II2I, a locking circuit is established for hold magnet I I I0 from battery through the winding and inner contact thereof, the outer right contacts of contact set H21, conductor HM to ground at the outer left contact of recorder start relay S552.

With ground connected to conductor H24, hot cathode gas-filled tube 3&0 ires in a circuit from negative battery through resistance SIM, resistance 3%32 across the grid-cathode gap of the tube to ground on conductor H24 and upon firing operates relay 363 in a circuit from positive battery through the Winding of relay 323 across the anodecathode gap of tube 300 to ground on conductor H24. Relay 323 upon operating closes a circuit from ground over the next to outer right back Contact of relay 503, conductor SIS, lower front contact of relay 3dS, upper back contact of relay 30d, upper back contact of. relay 36S, next to upper back contact of relay 305, conductor 301., left contacts of cross-point contact set I I2 I, front contact of hold magnet IIII, conductor H25, inner front Contact or" hold magnet 9! I, outer left contacts of cross-point contact set 933, conductor 935, next to inner lower front contact of relay 122, to battery through brake magnet 104 of the line finder. Magnet 106 operates, removes its brake shoe from the driving tape of the switch and establishes a circuit through the secondary winding of transformer 125, the primary winding of which is connected to one phase of the source 125 of alternating current, thence over the contacts of magnet 104 through the stator winding 128 of motor 105 and establishes a second circuit from the mid-point of the secondary winding of transformer 121, the primary winding of which is connected to the second phase of the source 125, over the contacts of magnet 104, through the shaded pole windings of motor 105, the upper front contact of relay 122, conductor 931, the next tc outer left contacts of cross-peint contact set 933, link circuit conductor 938, the next to outer left contacts of cross-point contact set I i2 I, conductor 308, upper back contact of relay 306, inner upper back contact of relay 305, lower back contact of relay 305, lower back Contact of relay 3I0, conductor 3i I, to the right terminal of the secondary winding of transformer 1.21 if relay 3I0 is unopefated, indicating that the calling line is located in one of the upper terminal banks and that the line nder must therefore be driven upwardly, or over the upper front Contact of relay 3I0, conductor 3I2 to the left terminal of the secondary winding of the transformer 121 if relay 3I0 is operated indicating that the calling line is located in the lower terminal bank and that the line nder must therefore be driven downwardly. Since it was assumed that the line located in the lower terminal bank initiated the call and line-group relay 230 was operated, relay 3I0 is therefore operated in a circuit over the upper front contact of relay 230, conductor 254, next to outer left front contact of relay 502, next to inner right back Contact of relay 503, conductor 5l9, winding of relay 3I0 to battery. It will be noted in this connection that relay 3I0 will be operated Vwhen any one of the linegroup relays 230 to 239 inclusive, serving subgroups of lines terminating in the lower bank, is operated upon an initiated call.

With relay 3I0 operated, the motor 105 drives the wiper set of the line finder at a high speed downwardly from its normal position, the offnormal contact springs 103 being moved to their lower position as soon as the wiper set leaves its normal position. As the sleeve wiper 102 passes over the sleeve terminal of each group terminal set, such as 105, a circuit is established from positive battery connected to each such sleeve terminal, over wiper 102, inner upper normal contacts of relay 12 I conductor 030, next to outer right contacts of cross-point contact set 933, link circuit conductor 940, next to outer right contacts of cross-point contact set II2I, conductor 3I3, upper back contact of relay 309, winding of polarized group counting relay 3I4, to ground. Relay 3Ili upon each operation establishes a circuit from ground over its front contact, conductor 3I5, to a point between resistance 52! and condenser 424 and other similar condensers for causing the firing of successive tubes of the chain 400. Since, however, it has been assumed that tube 4I4 was fired to designate the first subgroup of station lines terminating in the lower bank, the

rst operation of relay 3I4 when the sleeve wiper 102 engages the sleeve of the first group terminal set 100, causes the potential at the lower terminal of condenser 020 to be increased from negative 50 volts to zero or ground potential thereby raising the potential at the other terminal of. such condenser to positive 65 volts. A sucient difference of potential is new established between the cathodes of tube M5 to cause it to re andto operate relay 306 in a circuit over the cathode-anode path therethrough from battery 3I6 through the winding of relay 306, conductor 3 I 1, the cathode-anode path throughthe tube 4 I 5 to the anode battery 5M.

Relay 300 upon operating, opens at its inner upper back contact, the circuit of brake magnet 104 which releases to open the circuits of motor 105 and to apply the brake shoe to the dring tape, but due to its speed of movement, the wiper set thereof will not stop so quickly but that the sleeve wiper 102 will pass olf the group sleeve terminal of the first group terminal set 100, thereby opening the circuit of relay 3I4 which thereupon releases and, since relay 306 has now operated, establishes a circuit from ground over its normal contacts, the inner upper front contact of relay 306 to battery through the Winding of slow-to-release relay 305. Relay 305 operates, locking over its inner lower front contact, the lower back contact of relay 309, conductor 3I9, the inner left back contact of relay 503 to ground on conductor II2lI, and recloses the previously traced operating circuit for the brake magnet 104 over the middle upper front contact of relay 305 and the upper front Contact of relay 305. Brake magnet 104 now operates to close the circuits of motor 105, but with relay 300 now operated, the motor operates in a reverse direction to drive the wiper set upwardly at a slow speed` The circuit through the shaded pole windings of the motor 105 extends as previously traced from the mid-point of the secondary winding of transformer 121 to conductor 308, thence through resistance 3 I3, the lower front contact of relay 305, the lower front contact of relay 3| 0 and conductor SII to the right terminal of the secondary winding of transformer 121.

As a further result of tube M5 iiring, the potential on the right terminal of commutating condenser l121 is raised from negative 50 volts applied thereto from battery 3| 6 through the winding of relay 305 to positive 15 volts, whereby the l5volt positive potential applied to its left terminal and to the right cathode of tube 4M when tube 4I4 fired, is raised to positive 6'5 volts potential whereby a difference of only l5 volts potential is now effective between the right cathode and the anode of tube 4I4, whereupon tube iIll becomes extinguished, Tube M5 upon firing also charges condenser 026 in a circuit frorn positive battery 5I 4 across the cathode-anode gap of tube 4I5 through the 100,000-

sistance 52| and condenser 426 whereupon in the 

